Time switch



E. A. MEYER TIME SWITCH Sept. 20, 1938.

Filed June 26, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet l Sept. 20, 1938. I E MEYER 2,130,725

TIME SWITCH Filed June 26, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Sept. 20, 1938.

E. MEYER TIME swmcn Filed June 26, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Sept. 20, 1938 A UNITED STATES TIME SWITCH Emil A. Meyer, Springfield, Ohio Application June 26.

4 Claims.

The invention relates to a time switch, and more particularly to a double circuit time switch having snap-operable switch elements and time controlled trip means therefor, all combined in .5- a single unit.

' One of the principal objects of my invention is the provision of a pair of tiltable switch supports adapted to detachably and interchangeably support switch elements for a pair of separate circuits and clock controlled mechanism for operating one of the switch supports with a quick snap movement to either open or closed position.

Another object of the invention is the provision of means whereby a quick snap action of 5 either of a pair of switches for different circuits may be effected through the special mechanism for so operating one of the supports for the switches and the interchangeability of the switches in their supports.

A further object is the provision of a single unit double circuit time switch comprising tiltable switch supports with mercury tube switches detachably and interchangeably supported thereby and time controlled switch-actuating mecha- 25 nism whereby a quick snap action may be given to the switch for either circuit to enable the danger of arcing to be minimized in the circuit more frequently used or in the circuit selected where only one is employed.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the specification and drawings, in which Figure 1 is a front elevational view of the mechanism as it appears with the switches in 35 open position and the on" lever for one switch support about to be operated by its trip finger,

Figure 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing the parts after the "on lever for the same switch support has been operated and the off lever 40 for the same support is about to be operated,

Figure 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing the on" lever for the second switch support about to be operated,

Figure 4 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing 45 the on lever' for the second switch support after it has been operated and the off" lever for thesame switch support about to be operated,

Figure 5 is a side elevational view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1,

50 Figure 6 is a front elevational view of the 3 operating connections for the second switch support, taken on line 6-4 of Fig. 5, and

Figures '7 and 8 are detail perspective views of parts of the operating mechanism for the switch 55 S pp rts.

1935, Serial No. 28,566

The switch mechanism which forms a part of my invention is operated by a clockwork mechanism it, which may be either electric or mechanical, but is preferably a clock of known construction operated by a synchronous motor. The clock mechanism is not illustrated, since it forms no part of the present invention except as it furnishes timed rotation of a shaft which supports the trip fingers or pointers for engagement with the switch-actuating parts of the time switch mechanism.

The clockwork mechanism l5 includes a shaft 26 which corresponds to the usual hour hand shaft of an ordinary clock. A dial 21, fixed to this shaft and rotatable therewith, is marked to indicate the twenty-four hours of the day. The positioning of these markings relative to a fixed pointer 28 permits the clockwork mechanism to be set as desired, by knob l6.

Trip fingers 29, 30, I29 and I30 are rotatably positioned on shaft '26 and when adjusted to the selected points on the dial may be locked in the desired adjusted positions by means of a knurled thumb screwv 3|.

The trip fingers have their free ends offset to lie in different planes parallel with the plane of the dial 21, in order to permit each finger, in the course of its rotation with the shaft 26 to contact with and trip the respective switch actuating element with which it is designed to cooperate. These fingerscomprise two pair of on" and off members for engagement with the actuating on and off levers of the switchactuating mechanism, one pair of trip fingers for each switch and its circuit.

In order to change the timing of one or both of the switches the thumb screw 3| may be loosened and the trip fingers 29, 30, or I29, I30, or both pair of fingers, may then be selectively set relative to the dial 21 so that the switch or switches may be moved to on and off positions at the times desired. The thumb screw is then adjusted to hold the trip fingers in their selected set positions. The fingers, rotating with shaft 26 of the clock, will then trip the respective on and off levers of the switch-actuating mechanism at the times for which they are set.

The switch-actuating mechanism is supported upon a frame 32 which preferably forms a part of the framework of the clock mechanism IS. The actuating mechanism comprises two sets of levers, each set associated with a tiltatle support for a switch element, and each switch having contacts for an independent circuit. The set of levers for one of the switch supports com- Lever 33 is provided, on its rear side, with a and its pin 53, the latter engaging and carryprises an on" lever 33 and an ofi lever 34 which, when in operative position, have their upper end in the path of movement of their respective trip fingers 29 and 30.

Similarly mounted levers I33 and I34 are pivotally arranged with their upper ends in the paths of movement of their respective trip fingers I29 and I39.

The on lever 33 is fixedly secured to the tiltable switch support 35, which is pivotally mounted on a stud 31 projecting from the lower portion of the frame 32. The switch member carried by support 35 is preferably a-mercury or other liquid contact tube 36 detachably held upon the support by clips 235. The tube 35 is provided with the usual contacts to be bridged by the liquid in the tube to closethe circuit in which the contacts are included, and the switch is biased to ofi position, when attached to support 35, by the spring 48, which tilts the support and consequently the tube held by it to a position in which the liquid is in the end of the tube opposite to that in which the contacts are located. 7

When the switch support 35 is in on or closed switch position, the lever 33 is in the position shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, at the extreme left hand limit of its movement, as viewed in Fig. 2. In this position lever 33 bears against a stud 38 on frame 32.

roller or similar member 39 which bears against the cam-surfaced end 40 of a push lever 4| designed to push the lever 33 over the make contact.

A stop pin 42, fixed to the front surface of lever 33, is disposed adjacent the end 43 of a stop lever 44. Levers 4| and, are pivoted on a stub shaft 45 fixed to frame 32, the levers being independently movable on this shaft. A relatively heavy coil spring 46, secured at one end to frame 32, pulls the right-hand end of lever 4| downwardly, thus holding the cam-surfaced end 49 up against the roller 39 on the on" lever 33 and holding the latter in the left-hand position shown in Fig. 2.

A relatively light spring 41 attached to the outer end of stop lever 44 pulls the end 43 up adjacent to and in the path of .pin 42 on lever 33. Coil spring 43, secured at one end to frame 32, has its other end attached to the switch support 35 at a point above its pivot 31 and thereby 4501' lever 4| in upward position likewise tends to pull lever 34 upwardly, as shown in Fig, 1.

With the parts as shown in Fig. 2, the switch supported in support 35 is on or closed and the trip fingers 29 and 35- and dial 21 are being rotated clockwise by the clock I5. The "ofl trip finger 39, at the end of the set time, will move against "011 lever 34 and will move this lever ing with it the lever 4| to move the latter downwardly. This downward movement of lever 4| will move its cammed end 40 down and away from the roller 39 on the on" lever 33,- which would move freely to the right except that it is prevented from doing so by the end 43 of stop lever being in the path of pin 42 on lever 33. The on" lever 33 is thus held at the left by lever 44. However, the ofl lever 34 has a forwardly extending projection 50 which, upon the continued movement of lever 34, will contact with and depress lever 44 out of the path of pin 42 on lever 33, withthe result that the "on" lever 33 and switch-supporting member 35 will be snapped to the right by spring 49, tilting the mercury tube 36 to the open position wherein the mercury 52 is at the opposite end of the tube from the contacts 5|.

The right-hand movement of lever 33 is limited by a stpp pin 53a on the lever 4|. At the moment that the on lever 33 is freed to snap to the right, the trip finger 30 is still contacting with the off lever .34 and the trip finger continues to press lever 34 downwardly for some minutes after on lever 33 has moved to the right and the circuit has been opened. One result of permitting on lever 33 to snap to the right before off lever 34 is released is that on lever 33 is thereby moved to such a position that the roller 39 thereon will be above the lever 4| so that when the trip finger 30 finally moves past the end of "oif lever 34 and permits this lever to spring upwardly under the action of spring 48, its upward movement will be limited by the roller 39 in the path of lever 4|, which is integral with off lever 34.

At the conclusion of the movements just described the switch actuating parts for the switch held by switch support 35 are in the position shown in Fig. 3, th on lever 33 being so held by the pull of spring 49. When the on" trip finger 29 moves against on lever 33 the latter is moved gradually to the left until the roller 39 on lever 33 moves past the point 53 at the angle in lever 4|. When this occurs the lever 4| is immediately free to be snapped by spring 45, and since its cam surfaced end is in contact with the roller 39 on the on lever 33, the latter lever wilLbe snapped to the left by the camming action and past the end 43 of lever 44, the latter being moved upwardly by spring 41. The mercury tube held by support 35 will be tilted to on position, as shown in Fig. 2, and the particular circuit controlled by that tube will be closed. Stop lever 4| carries lever 34 with it in its upward or clockwise movement, so that the position of this lever is again as shown in Fig. 2.

In order to operate manually the switch held in switch support 35, a lever 55 is fixed to the switch support 35. When the member 35 is in the position shown in Fig. 1, downward pressure on lever 55 will move the on lever 33 to the left and the parts will assume the position shown in Fig. 2. When the parts are as shown in this figure, manual pressure on lever 34' will move the parts to the Fig. 1 or "oh position.

If desired, a lever similar to lever 55 may be provided for switch support I35.

The tubes 35 and I35 have lead wires GI and lil, respectively, extending therefrom to their respective circuits. Each of the switches or tubes 35, I35 may be supp rted in either of the switch supports 35, I35. The operation of either of the switches 35,135, may thus be effected by the switch-actuating mechanism which includes "on lever 33 and of! lever 34 by inserting the particular switch which it is desired to have so operated into the switch support clips 235 or 235a.

When two circuits are used, the second circuit may be controlled by the switch (35 or I35) held in support I35 by clips 235a, this support being pivotally mounted on the same stud or pivot 31 on which switch support 35 is mounted.

switch support I35, controlling the second cirtilting arm I41 and moving push rod I43 downcuit, are mounted on a shaft I45.

The on lever I33 is fixed to shaft I45 by screw I46 or other suitable means and is adapted to control switch I36 (or switch 36, when the,

latter is inserted in switch support I35) through an arm I4], fixed to shaft M by screw I48, and a push rod I43, the latter having its opposite ends respectively connected with arm I41 and switch support I35. This connection is capable of adjustment by means of a knurled nut adjusting member I30 in screw-threaded engagement with the threaded end of the push rod I43.

Switch support I35 is retained in its on position by the engagement of a lug I50 thereon with a hook I60 carried on the end ofv a latch arm I5I fixed to a collar I52 pivotally mounted on the shaft I45. Also fixed to collar I52 is an arm I53, the free end of which is engaged within the bifurcated end of oil lever I34.

Levers I33 and I34 are respectively tripped by trip fingers I23 and I30 which are provided for the second circuit and can be set in any relative positions for on and f'oi! with respect to each other and to the trip fingers 23, 30 of the first circuit control mechanism.

The trip fingers 23, 30, I23 and I30 are mounted on the same shaft 26 and have their free ends offset to lie in different planes parallel to the dial 21, the on and off levers 33, 34, I33 and I34 being positioned in different planes, each lying in the path of its respective trip finger. Through the interchangeability of the switches 36 and I36 in the switch supports the trip fingers may be used selectively, either pair of fingers 23, 30 or I23, I30, being employed to control eitherof the circuits in which the switches 36, I36 are included.

In the operation of th control for the circuit in which the switch support I35 is included, the

trip finger I23 engages and tilts lever I33 and the shaft I45 to which the latter is fixed, thereby wardly to set the tube held in switch support I35 to closed circuit position, (Figs. 3 and 6) the parts being held in this position by engagement of hook I60 with lug I50. The hook I60 is biased to latchingposition by a spring I secured at one end to the frame 32 and at its opposite end to arm I53, which is fixed to and movable with arm I5I.

The hook I60 is remov'ed'from lug I50 by the engagement of o trip finger I30 with the off lever I34, (see Fig. 4), which tilts lever I34 and raises the bifurcated end thereof, thereby raising the arm I53 and lifting the hook I60 free of lug I50. When the hook I60 is thus released the switch support I35 (and the switch I36 or 36 carried by it) is snapped to o position by the spring I46 which is provided for this purpose.

I claim:

l. A device of the character described, comprising a pair of switch supports, each being pivotally mounted, a pair of switches each controlling an electric circuit, said switches being interchangeably mountable upon said switch supports, means to maintain one of said switch supports in one position, clockwork actuated members to move original position,

' position, and

said last-mentioned switch support to its opposite position and to restore said last-mentioned switch support after a predetermined time to its means to maintain the other of said switch supports in one position, a clockwork actuated member to initiate movement of the last mentioned switch support to the opposite position, and a spring-actuated cam in operative engagement with a part of the same switch support, said cam being arranged to snap the same said switch support the remainder. of the distance to its opposite position when the engaged part of said same switch support has moved a predetermined distance along said cam.

2. A device of the character described comprising a pair of pivotally mounted interchangeable electric switches, means for maintaining each of said switches in open or closed circuit position, a clockwork mechanism, means actuated by said clockwork mechanism for moving one of said switches to its opposite position and for restoring said switch after a predetermined time to its original position, a member actuated by said clockwork mechanism to initiate the movement of the other of said switches to its opposite means in operative engagement with the last mentioned switch and arranged to move said switch the remainder of the distance to its opposite position when said lastmentioned switch has moved a predetermined distance.

3. A device of the character described comprising a pair of pivotally mounted switches, each provided with contacts for an electric circuit, means for maintaining each of said switches in open circuit position, clockwork actuated members to move one of said switches to its opposite position and to restore said switch after a predetermined time to its original position, a clockwork actuated member to initiate the movement of the other of said switches to its opposite position, means in operative engagement with the last-mentioned switch and arranged to move it the remainder of the distance to its opposite position when said last-mentioned switch has moved a predetermined distance, and a clockwork actuated member to release 'said last-named means to permit said last-mentioned switch to move back to its original position.

4. In a device of the character described, a pair of pivoted electric switches, spring means for maintaining each of said switches in open circuit condition, a pair of switch-actuating levers for each switch, cluding a dial shaft, pointers adjustably secured to said shaft and rotatable therewith, said pointers lying with their free ends in different planes parallel to the dial, and each pointer being adapted to engage and tilt one of said levers, one of said pointers thereby initiating themovement of one of said switches to closed circuit position and another of said pointers initiating the movement of the same switch to open position, and spring-operated cam means in operative engagement with said lastmentioned switch and arranged to move said switch the remainder of the distance when said switch has moved a predetermined distance along said cam.

EMIL A. MEYER. 

